Illinois men's basketball tops VCU 76-55, will meet Houston in Sweet 16

On March 23, 2026, Illinois men's basketball advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 76-55 victory over VCU in Greenville, South Carolina, a win that sets up a regional showdown with No. 2 seed Houston. Guard Andrej Stojakovic led the Illini with 21 points, and coach Brad Underwood celebrated the moment, saying, "This is why I came here," as the program moved forward in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cougars enter the matchup 30-6 under coach Kelvin Sampson, marking their seventh straight trip to the Sweet 16. Houston routed Texas A&M 88-57 in the second round, becoming the first team since 2008 to win its opening pair of tournament games by 30 or more points. The Cougars rank among the nation's best defensively, lead the country in fewest turnovers committed, and displayed an 18-0 run over 6:25 in the first half against the Aggies; they also secured 19 offensive rebounds despite missing 38 shots in that game.

The Illini (26-8), a No. 3 seed that reached the Elite Eight in 2024—their deepest NCAA run since 2005—will travel to Houston, where the Cougars opened as 2½-point favorites. Underwood urged his team to remain loose and attack—"Just let it rip"—while Sampson emphasized ball security and rebounding as his players, including several freshmen, continue to adapt to Houston's style of play.